Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Dubka is ready to hit back
DUBKA can snap an 11-month losing run in style by bagging today’s Betfred Ebor, the highlight of an exciting York card.
Trained by Sir Michael Stoute, Dubka notched up four wins on the bounce last term but following her Newmarket victory in September, she has failed to hit quite the same rhythm when tried in better company.
She rounded off last year and kicked off the current campaign with Listed defeats, but subsequently raised to Pattern level, Dubka has certainly not been disgraced.
Beaten a length and a half in the Pinnacle Stakes at Haydock, she failed to make any impact in the Lancashire Oaks, cutting out the early running before being found out for a bit of toe in the finish of the 12-furlong event.
However, the Dubawi filly only lost by a neck when upped to 14 furlongs at Goodwood this month, with the soft ground clearly very much to her liking.
The ground will certainly not be as deep as that, but Dubka has won on quick conditions before and the going may not be quite so crucial in this handicap event, in which Stoute’s runner appears to be on a very favourable mark.
She will not want for help from the saddle with Josephine Gordon on board and Dubka can give Stoute his first Ebor in some 21 years.
Nebo has hit the bar at Group Two level on his last two outings, but he can enjoy his moment in the spotlight in the Al Basti Equiworld Gimcrack Stakes.
He seems to be equally as effective over six and seven furlongs.